This season, it’s been good to see the initiative working well of having more EFL games kicking off at 12.30. The early starts have complimented the 12.30 Premier League game well.
What these games also offer us is an early accumulator opportunity, something to compliment the good old 3pm kick-off acca. This week, we’ve found a way to put all 8 games in England into a 12.30pm multi bet.
Newcastle v Man City, Premier League
Man City played Watford in the EFL Cup in midweek, while Newcastle had their game at Wimbledon cancelled. Whether that will benefit Eddie Howe’s squad remains in question.
His side were uncharacteristically poor at Fulham last weekend, conceding thrice while Man City were salvaging a late draw from the Arsenal game.
It would be unwise for Newcastle to attempt to defend for 90 minutes at St James’ Park and it’s certain Eddie Howe knows that. Goals are bound to come, likely more of them for Man City.
Over 2.5 goals is around 4/9, but that’s a more certain bet than taking odds-on about a Man City win.
Blackburn v QPR, Championship
A number of us are guilty of having thought Blackburn may struggle this season. Frankly, they haven’t.
The Lancashire side sit fifth in the Championship on 12 points from six games, scoring 12 and conceding 6. More to the point, their aggregate score is 9-3 at home and more early attacking can be expected at Ewood Park this week.
QPR are unbeaten so far in their three away games, though strictly speaking results have been a little less impressive. They have however scored 5 in 3 away matches.
Both teams will go for it here, and it seems both teams to score is the way to go at around 8/11.
Derby v Norwich, Championship
This is a mid-table clash, at least for now. Both sides have scored 8 and conceded 7 in their six games this season in the league, leading to many thinking this will be a low-scoring affair.
No home team has won between these two in six games (that has to end sometime), while Derby are hitherto unbeaten at home with three wins in a row against Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Cardiff having come without them conceding a goal.
Norwich did manage a 1-0 win at Coventry but lost their other two games by an aggregate of 5-0.
The home side look stronger here, but it could be a hard-fought affair. Derby or the draw together is about a 4/9 shot and looks the safest play.
Sheff Wed v West Brom, Championship
The away side are favourites for this game and are always fancied to go up when playing at this level.
West Brom in fact have now hit the top of the league and have secured five wins and a draw from their first 6 games, scoring 10 and conceding 2.
Sheffield Wednesday beat a poor Plymouth and drew with QPR at home but lost to Leeds in between. Away from home, West Brom have beaten QPR comfortably, won at Stoke and recently took care of Portsmouth 3-0.
Even on their travels, they are the most likely winners so 13/10 looks pretty fair.
Crawley v Bolton, League One
Bolton go into this as favourites, but backing an away team on the same points as their opposition and a place lower in the league would be ridiculous.
Crawley’s three home games thus far have ended 2-1, 0-3 and 1-1 while Bolton’s away games have finished 1-2, 2-0 and 2-3.
At a glance, that makes Bolton look more impressive comparatively, but it also shows that the home side are likely to score. Ideally, Crawley will do so first and Bolton will chase them with both teams scoring, a 13/20 bet.
Reading v Huddersfield, League One
Yet another game in which the away side is favoured, though watching Huddersfield recently would make you question why that is.
Yes, they can score goals, but they conceded in crazy fashion when they played Northampton recently which has left them, after a good start, with 4 defeats in 5 games.
Reading have been steady at home. League wins against Wigan and Charlton compliment an EFL Trophy success against West Ham’s under-21’s, Leyton Orient having taken all three points last time.
That last defeat was only 1-0 and it seems they have enough to trouble Huddersfield, so backing them or the draw together at 1/2 looks wise.
Harrogate v Bradford, League Two
Yet again, the away side is expected to achieve more here with Bradford odds-on.
In truth, they are only four points clear of their hosts, but Harrogate have been unimpressive. A 2-0 win against Doncaster last time clawed them back to an aggregate score of 2-3 from three home games, while Bradford’s away goals are 5-4 against.
A low-scoring affair could be on the cards, so even if Bradford do win, we can back Harrogate on the handicaps. The home side with a 2-goal head start at 2/9 looks safe.
Walsall v Colchester, League Two
Finally, a home favourite in Walsall and one that really should win. They currently sit 6 points and 8 places above their opposition and their home record versus Colchester’s away suggestions home goals all the way. Home win at 17/20.
The Bet
- Over 2.5 goals in Newcastle v Man City
- Both teams to score ‘yes’ in Blackburn v QPR
- Derby or draw in Derby v Norwich
- West Brom to beat Sheffield Wednesday
- Both teams to score ‘yes’ in Crawley v Bolton
- Reading or draw in Reading v Huddersfield
- Harrogate +2 goals on the handicap v Bradford
- Walsall to beat Colchester
The 8-leg accumulator should come to more than 45/1 and is worth a go at small stakes.